ANDREAS NEEDS A MIRACLE

I have started this page to help little Andreas's family with the costs associated with the well being of Andreas. Please read his story...any donations will be gratefully received...


My name is Andreas Sheppard I am 7 months old, from Hobart & this is my story.

Mummy & Daddy were told before I was born that I had a hole in my heart (VSD) but everything seemed fine. At 9.11am on 23rd June 2011 my fight for life began. At first everything looked fine, I got to have a short breastfeed from mum then the unexpected happened. I crashed and went into critical heart failure and required intubation (life support). Mum, Dad and my siblings Maykayla 12yrs, Sinead 8yrs & Soren 2.5yrs were very emotional.

Mum and Dad were advised that my life expectancy was only a couple of hours. Friends and family came to meet me quickly and my Christening took place. After many tears and prayers I fought hard and was flown to The Royal Children’s Melbourne with Dad 12hrs after birth.

I was only given a 1 in 10 chance of surviving the flight. During that night Dad was advised 3 times goodbyes were needed. I kept fighting very hard and Mummy flew over to me on 28th June and started the bedside vigil. At 7 days old in ICU, Daddy was allowed to hold me for the first time & mum got her 2nd cuddle. They were scared with all my medicine lines & monitors. I was surrounded by monitors, tanks, syringe drives & drips stands. I made it to ward 7 West with oxygen assistance. At 3 weeks I got my first bath. Mummy expressed milk around the clock which I receive though a tube in my nose (NG). At 5 weeks old my siblings came for a visit & family members. At 5.5 weeks I finally could breathe without oxygen assistance!

At 7 weeks old I flew back to home Hobart! I fly to Melbourne every month for a check up and to monotor the progression of my heart problem. I see private Cardiologist & Pediatrician in Hobart every month. I have weekly appointments with Pediatric outpatients in Hobart. Pediatric outpatients home nursing call in and say hi.

I had a surprise admission to Melbourne in January 12 for 8 days requiring IV medications, I rejected the IV after 26hrs without a full dose of Antibiotics. They changed me to oral Antis as I am extremely hard for IV access because my veins are so little and it is best to keep an access free for emergencies.

I am gaining weight which is fabulous but comes with the problem of my heart having to work harder to sustain my life. Doctors have advised Mum & Dad there isn’t much more room left for increasing my daily medicines I depend on.

My Pediatrician advised Mummy today that everyone is still in shock I had managed to stay out of hospital until January 12. My future is short and we are expecting lots more admission to Melbourne Children’s but I will fight on and keep proving everyone wrong.

Thank you for taking the time to read my story, love Andreas xo